We are human, you are not

Evin Cheikosman

By Evin Cheikosman:

As many of us are already aware, on May 11th the Iranian consulate released an absurd statement about Iran’s perspective regarding the history of Iranian-Kurdish relations. It came as a shock for many Kurds who, without question, regard themselves as a legitimate people with a long, rich history. In the statement, Kurds are referred to as “ethnic minorities in Iraq, Turkey, and Syria,” while mentioning Iran as “their true great house and motherland.” The Kurdish Republic of Mahabad was deemed as the “short-lived Communist government,” and the Kurdish language was belittled to a dialect; stating: “Kurdish is not a language, but a dialect of the many Persian languages, which has been created through mixing Arabic, Turkish, and Persian languages.”

So to summarize, Iran is basically saying that Kurds would not exist if it were not for the coming to existence of Iran. This, of course, is rather ridiculous given the fact that, according to various historical references, Kurds’ lineage dates back as far as 2400 BC, where they occupied the same lands as they do today. The first encounter of Persians wasn’t until 2000 BC in central Asia. Thus Kurds lived far early on in history than the Persians did. Given, their history is very interlinked. The Persians were closely associated with the Medes (Kurds’ ancestors), and both encountered the Elamites, thereafter absorbing the Elamite culture. So together, then Persians and Medes embraced the Mesopotamian culture, but they both were different people when they met and neither equated to the birth of the other. Therefore, for Iran today to claim such allegations as that Iran is the Kurd’s true homeland and Kurds are an “Iranian people” is simply false. Both people’s histories are linked in many ways, but claiming that one is subordinate or “indebted” in some way to the other is called manipulating historical facts for one’s own benefit.

It is rather uncomplicated to manipulate, eradicate, and deny the history of a people. Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq have been doing this to Kurds for millennias. And, given the recent statement by the Iranian consulate, such injustice and foul play still goes on. For this reason it is simple for countries like Iran, which has put so much effort into manipulating and eradicating Kurdish history, to claim to be the “all creator” of and “motherland” for Kurds without a sliver of retaliation from its neighbors because they do the same thing!

On another note, however, retaliation did come from the Kurdistan Region’s Department of Foreign Relations (DFR). The DFR summoned Iran’s acting consul general, Mohsen Bawafa, in Erbil to answer for the Iranian consulate’s statement.  Bawafa’s explanation was plain and simply this: “[t]hese are not the policies or the stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” But, how could that be so? How could a governmental institution claim such sensitive historical allegations against a people, and then go back, on contradiction, to say that all allegations do not represent the state’s stance in relation to such matters?

No matter what Iran claims is and is not history, Kurds exist. Iran, you can manipulate a people’s history and deny them their human right to exist, but you cannot manipulate their memories, the factual stories brought down from generations before, you cannot manipulate Kurds into thinking that they are lesser than you, and you cannot force Kurds to submit to this injustice.


5 Responses to We are human, you are not
  1. behruz ebrahimi
    May 19, 2014 | 05:36

    This kinda nonsense hypocritical talk has been typical of Iran through the history, and I believe it doesn’t work anymore. This time around, Iran is on the wrong side of the history.

  2. Znertu
    May 19, 2014 | 12:43

    I’m afraid you’ve been reading too much of Izady’s works. Regardless, Kurdish doesn’t in any shape or form constitute a Persian dialect, but it is an Iranic language, i.e. a language of the Indo-Iranian language family.

  3. Azad Bejou
    May 21, 2014 | 10:50

    Thank you Evin for this article. Where can I get the full text of this statement?

  4. Adan Direj
    May 24, 2014 | 03:16

    Thank you for another great article. I was wondering where i can find that statement from Iran?
    Keep writing, you are an inspiration for us all and one who’s future are so bright.

    • Azad Bejou
      May 24, 2014 | 21:02

      the Iranian Consulate published the statement on their website, but given the complications that came with that statement, it is no longer found on their site.

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